Compare towns
Randolph vs Fairfax vs Castleton vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Randolph has the most renters (32.8% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Randolph | Fairfax | Castleton | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,843 |
5,226 |
4,453Lowest |
5,920Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.4±7.4Highest 6% below VT |
38.8±3.3 10% below VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
| Randolph and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13kLowest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$378,200±$22kHighest 19% above VT |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,172±$173Highest 5% below VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207Lowest 18% below VT |
| Randolph and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,698 7% below VT |
$5,497Highest 9% above VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±17.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 12% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Fairfax School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 |
| High school in town | Randolph Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4Lowest |
9.8 |
— | 10.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.